Convertible automobile body



June 24, 1930. w. DUPRE CONVERTIBLE AUTOMOBiLE BODY Filed May 2, 1928 5Sheets-Sheet l June 24, 1930. w, DUP'QE 1,766,015

CONVERT I BLE AUTOMOB ILE BODY Filed May 2, 1928 5 SheetsSheet 2 June24, 1930. w. DUPREI CONVERTIBLE AUTOMOBILE BODY 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FiledMay 2, 1928.

June 24, 1930. I w. DUPRE 1,766,015

GQNVERTIBLE AUTOMOBILE BODY Filed May 2, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 rr;qmemes em jdoiWEBTxmE A omihm 301w a pjmcttidnffi eqmyg, 19281 Serial m.27 1,6331 f I r 'nlhiszinventioh reletestothe body ofian thisinvent-ion, shotving two positions'of the automobile and. thej principalobjects thereof parts in full and dottedlines; v

' are to provide wconstrlfltionby which the Fig.'y2' is a vertical'sectionalaview the ,i 7

body canbe convertedifrom a two-passenger line 22 of Figfl .5 coupo to asedan omt'heri closed'automobile Fig; 3 is anend View onenlargedscalezof:55

forfivexor moreTpassen'gers,oi-"vice versa, the means: for operatingthemovableiparts by -the manipulation of afsingle element; toend'theletchqforholding them; 3' prox ide -tn operatingmeanst1ierefor-;,pref- Fig; .4 is aniedge vie'w-ofthe sameishowing erably'comprising -ritwo; flexibleumernbers, thesuppQrtin'gbraGketiil section;to 1. both-being arranged-ytoxbe operated by a -.;.F'gs:.5 and 6 are-seet'iona15 views onvthe .6 I singles-shaft and ada ptedto beturned-byha lines 5+5 and 6+6 'of'F-ig. 2.firespective1y, ,c'rank formoving theyperts at the 'rearjand -showing. the parts inft-Wo differentpositions; I topfbfthmbody fon thenpur'poseiofymaking Fig;"iisasectional vieWof-the-opereting I this quick change; to provide; an-,armngej-, shaft'showing theermngeinentkfor manipu 115 ment' ofvthesevoperating meansntimedito' lating therearlelements-of the-device; gac lllateltwo ofthe;mQyableelementsjat dif? F ig." 8Yis a;sirni1ar viewshowing the el e i ,ferent rates of speedisojthat they willicorn ements: for manipulating; thewfo'rwardcelje-g 'lilto finalqpositioninfithewproper'ordergwtof mentgc; 1 .r

provide the top, ofthierear portion of-ithe Y FigL'Qris asec'ti-onallview on the:1ine"9f9 r 0 coiip and the rear portion thereofin three of Fig. 2, showing the fastening of. thelele 17 elements so;hinged"-togetherj that, when inentsin the sedan position 1 r movedfto anextreme position, they -.-o onsti'-' 'Fig.1Oisazvertioalsectional iew-onthe tntethe vertical rearpart and the horizonlinegilO-lOof-Fig.6; V t

- ytalifpart atthe reargof the top of the sedan; "Fig; 11 isia sectionalView on' the line 7' to soicurye theiredges that they fitotogether 11-j"11 of Eig...l 0; :12:

in; both positions-{to; -preserve the linesfof Fig: "12is afaceview"of-the-partsshown f l bothistyles of"car';-tonprovide a single means iiiF ig'.1'l, showing thefishades forf conoeaiforssecurelygfasteningthe-movable elements ing the" window htfltopen;

- 't-ogether ineither position; to provide means 'Eig'. 13'isa rearviewi of the car showing; I

'2 01:preventing 1eakage1through therooffiind :a spare -W1'1G'G14in'position'and indicating its 0 1 rear in both position'sof the vparts;fto prodisplacement to provide I access to" theii'lugexfvideaconstruction-in?which:thehack-gwfll gage carrier under-theseatj-Iq I of 'thefcoup andthe top ofthe back arjeused :1 Fig. 14-is a rear iewof'the I- I "1 to form thetopfatndfiback of ,the, rear 'zirm therefor;

compartment oft-the; isedam" tor'proi ide Fig. 15 is an edgez-viewnftheaving; 56

.windowsin'fltwof ofgthe }moVableQe1e-' J -F'1g.- 16-1s'a.rear.viewof'thesbrioket$011,

ments, one to ,10.6,;usedv in; ,each'i-positiQn supporting thisarrnratthe endjand wywi of t'he'parts to.f;eoncea1 the Window that Fig-:17 isan end vi'eiirofthe same;

is not being msed in ifa verysimpleli-man Referring to Fig.iitwillheaseen that; the

i 11613 provide mealiseforeholding thejfidinvention .isilhlstrated in a"forln inwvhichj j11sti1,]ole;pau'ts that constitute-"the, {changing theautomobile: body, representsa} coupe elements andQtoIprO ide .a sparewheel sup ,oon'strlictionqbut:withoutanyerurnbie setorf I port vadaptedto be moved toproviclegacoess at least any thz t is oapable of beingutilized.

I I to the back compartment fforluggafge; =3. In,;this case;th emainhodylO 'orufra-ineis 1-7 Other. objects}: and' adifzintages 'ofuther-inprovided within hingedielementll which,v

=yention.willfappeaiyfheieinafter; T 2; this adjustment, ioonstit'utes,theback got the mfBeference'isto he had -totheacoompanycar zindfltwootherielements '12 and 13' which are-hinged:together, as Will/appearlaterg;

ring drawin s -i-nt whichp F ig, lf;i a side viewof, andconstituteithevtop ofjthe-rearjend. The

wii pg;a boplyv constrnotegl in accordencewith Ae1eme1 1t is ,hingedytothehoc1y: 10 at" 14:;

' nearthe top, the eieinent 13 hingedht near the rear, andthe elements12 and 13 are hinged together at the point 16a Thesethree hingedelements arensedas will be seen'from comparison of Figs. 1, 5

and 6 in thefollowing way. Theelement 11 isu'sed "either a's the backgoras a part of the top of c51 .The eiehrerit 13 is 'tise' d either asthetop in the ooup style or as, a

elenient. 12 forms sparhi: the infetioh' case. Apair of straps- 20.connecttheele r ments ll and 12 and are shown nearly V I Theiiser threeelements are forrhedin the same way their most taut condition in; Fig.5;This connection is a flexible one as the restof :the "exterior part'ofthebody and are provided I with any desired of j. strengthening meansin, the'it'ormof cross 20 0f the. vehicle can-be retained in both; pagetions-o-f theseel'einents.ff i It is obitioufs, therefore, thatfthGSGjthi'BE V e1'ementsponsti'tute the principal ream-re; of

' this invention and p'rotideior the'convers 'sion of the car from onetype toenoither.

. aa ndv gl2ito'getherart st-her topv as shown 'inflFig; V I 6. Beforethe body 118 rcolietipsed to for-n5 rtl'h coupe style offoanl'thi sS'erew hasL'toI be "-muremoved; When they are? 1 sition forithef'coiipiconstruot-ion; thisasiew' When: theyqare inL-the position :toform a sedan; structure, ,a' thui'nb screw 21 preferably is inserted tohold: thejtwo :phrts 11 -211is 'repiaeed in lt'hefiosition shown 1 2'which is for 11151311119059 i of holding the elements Hand 12 togetheras-shown Fig.

this case the *ztX-isof the screw 21; is horizontal. and, itf-is'located at theba'ck er v the two front seats 22,wh ieh have. ton-betipped forward in order, togetjat it. In'

= the condition shownin Fig. 6,-the screw is verticalfandplaced-overhead,

*It' will ioeinotioed that. in addition-tolthe I lfront-se'ats22 whichare tippedat23 ait theii forwardends sons to get attheigfiasfteli-ing:screw 21-, there i-s'jaf'rear seat 24 whio'h is g-stationery and theyare sedpn-1yhen the body isi:converted intoqthe sedztn type, This T reer:seait is provide'dflwith a fimovab le ba'c'k 25 hinged on the 9.: Thisbeek has fan angular extension 26,: the 'fimo'veinents: of which areControlled by a (guide rod 27; {As ,the hack element is raised the :seatback is fer'cecl forward, 1 'as shown "in. Fig ,Whemhe elerhent islowered the, 155501525 h wngs down 'hy gmvitybat' of the ways In erderto prevent; Water or moisture part ofthe back in the sedan style. The

. direction wil l rais'e the rear see -between a pair of flange fromentering the car at eny point through I the joints formed by" thishinged construc- 1 1 4 tion, I' provide aseries of gutters 40, 41

and 42, connected indifferent ways withthe severed parts. Thegutter 40is fixed on 2 the. element 12 so asto be horizontal when this :e1ement.is horizontahtthat is, in both its final positions. I'i1 Fi-'g."i6 thisis shown 7 as coming under the. joint between this 'eie T mentend theelement Bend it is-horizontal 7 across theca'r"to deliverfthe water ateither behindi-one of side and so as to rundown the wmaowsvsey p ,Thegntter l is fixed to the stationary 1 roof of thebody 1O endithereforeis not'lnovfable. W This is slanted to one side vand 'de V tliyersdownthrough afipipe and discharges j under the oar-. Theggutter is an in:tegml-mrt of the B jement12 "and of edursB is. hor-iZonttl in both: ofthe positions-of this part of the roofsoth'at it will receive the waterfrom the element 11; inithel'positi'onjshown in Fig. 63nd deliver-itoutside the Window. In the} closed position else it is ih position to irecei :any Water :run-

downthe rear "suritaee of the-element il l anddischztrgingitiat thesider lIn each ,rthe smne purpose.

the operation of these' ipvrts jfin aiiposition alithreeo t'hes e;gutters '"s'erye provided: an operating: ShaJft- BO hawing a square "endpreferably "for the reception v 'o f the ordinary-starting crank orofeoursee 7 I any othe r of wrench-"or hztndie "22 d sired, thi shaft 1is 'woun'cl tiig-h c flexible connection 32,111 this case shown on"theieft hand side o he-oer. ,By'w ihding tightly I mean that windjuipion it. :I t' cen be in thefoi m 'ot met-a1 oh'ain, harder stra/p.an

v 2 s'sojon' es thesheft begins to turn, this rconneetion begins to exdisoonnectedwith-e 'corre'sponding 'men1br '34ve'ithe1- flexible, or

otherwiseywhi'ehis con-nected withan mim- -;iseehred to the section13*and projecting {outwardly from it at. the rear 01' bottomjof- Y"thepivot hinge 1 5. Itwi-iI beebvi'ohs that -the rotation of this shaitin l the proper have 'provided on theShatt -BO, in etfthe other end, eseeond flee: t-ion 3-7 which is 'loosely "Wouh place.011;,that'jeheount, when the shatft the connection and "does mtesert any-c'om'mence to exert which resultsin t ward m1 fthronghfthepositionfshown in i'p-uliupon it bu't, merthe cefivom nshave beentightened up fon thefsha ft, it' WiIIthen' p SitiVe pull on it I Fig. 5.The flexible ohneetio'n' '37-**is1 f I W l;b een ha f e on rati 5f the,shait i 30* lone-firs Pu l th 'vzpart l2, and

back ab toithe p it o sh wn. in Fig.

side of the casing.

meson.

ib yondcth piv t has eu-iih i f.- I -i shor erheni lea m 3 -w" .1. andthen sta ts; to 191111 V; ou th e ement l sbaskward y-a; 'E p ia e Pr pt olle j h t the 2P-1 ll-I'bi xthe e3' fle ib e 11 4011: nectio is willnovfv continue to perform-their er aun i th parts r ght t the 1 5 timesh w i (Fig-J ?or:,- his purp s .v t Will be seen "that the arm, '38 isshorter .;than he 2235 so; itflworks fasteri'iaf er. it

finally starts- E en al y;theie e ts .1,. 12f and all come to; theposition shown in Fig. 6 at the same; time. Then the screw -21,is'inserted and they are held there.

For the purposeof holding the shaft in any position in which it may bedesired to hold it, I providea gravity latch 33, en-- gaging a toothedWheelj34 -jfixed to the shaft 80. Thelatch has a handle 35 formanipulating it projecting out through a-slotin the I In; the sides ofthe casing, at the rear, are spaces for receiving two Windows '86-,

' Which are .operate'dlbyhand" or in any de-' sired way. Theyruniingrooveaoneon the element 13 and one on the upright part at thecenter of the body.. These Windows of course are concealed under theedges of the part 13 :When the body is inthe" form shown in Fig'. 1, infull'lines; butwhenthe car is";

' may'be desired as indicated in Fig. 6. Pre- Itfvvill be obvious thatit is desirable to have a a Window through the element 11" to serve asarearyvindovv when .the vehicle is bein g used as a coup andawindowthrough" converted into a sedan they arepulled up by-hand'andleft closedor-partly closed as.

ferably they have no operating means conf nected With any of' thei otherfeatures. They also serve-as a meansrfor' bracing the top and keep theangles square. h

when used as a sedanl v v I have provided theseftwo'openings element 113to be used for the same purpose andec. In Figs; 10, 1'1 and 12 is shownthe construction of one of these, It is one feature of thisinventiontofprovide. these openings in such form; that When not inuselas a rear windoweach'l one is closedand a Way as to'conceal as nearas 'possiblecthe disguised both inside andfloutside, in such factthatany window 'is' there For this purpose, I provide each of "the twowinand one ofthem with a'handle 49 'forfmaznipulating it. The shade 4&7is at the front of the Wall and the shade-(l8 is at the rear,

doWs 45and 4:6 With 'twoishades 47 and 48 next to theglilSSpftl'lGjWlIldOW; ,'lhese I shades are connected by cords, strapsor the I like '50, passing over-rollers" 51, two sets of straps beingused-.toyform an endless con- ;j5 x J struction.

in the rooif closed; 1t will be notic df tha ofthe occupants: exc

Mi d; "1i

re rip a' Now vvhen thephandle-is pushed or pulled the two; shadesaredrawn together as indi v eated ;.by the arrows inFig 12;,i-or1moved,apantasn ay be. desired. 'lnone case the w ndowi s. con e ed a rea andat the front of the element or sectioni in .vvhich it' iis locatedand-in the other case,

.o f --:course,-the tvvo shades arej both open; i it Whejn closed theyear} shade is located next 2 to the glass, ln orderitoconceal theglfactt attherei sh epr efit wire s 1 is I colored-iflike the 1 outside of thebody of the car Thus vvhen the car is bein used I .asi-a c upf a w in Fg b in in theeleinent 11 is open and'the Window in the element- 1 i iqlc a c ns ele A s 7 much as possible-by itsresemblance to/kthe Siliface;of the car. f 3

the "Win w 6 is, pe sm t n w 4 rear c Whe msed howninifiia e a :2 an,

car 15;? spa s at d q e s d r me- @517 un cured on a' stationa'ry studtya nut 58. This :56 notches :59 jorfreceivingiprojectionsflO on a plate;61,-

fi xed in position, ;v Thethumb nut '58} is: loosened .to allow 7 thelarni I56 tof'be' l iioved out of the thepro jfectionsibO anduien ct vviee i e b l-d pped as' h d t lines in LEig;,13.* fI hi' r nae-r the pesor r adi y w a t W ll fb seen e let qn,diz a s r, that .l, PrQY s a ans:f r br at e th parts cvvhich 'require 1 o assistance on the part tivelyholdin-ggthe peas n eithergposfitionf and "conyenient mans o=bringingthe back of the re ar seat into proper placefvvherei it canbeused in case, the l the sedan position. 7 i

i rThe changing of the l I ithout.Complicationsof any kind and also ameewasi eseb lieifea esi h l eptthe n erelturningfof -theshaiitgtochangellfromone form to the v otherfthat 'l 1ievi 1e1mea ema;Illlllllllllln I number of partsifor collecting a iyfmoist'ure 1 thatmeet r g-1' th ecee yti ne.

vflin it e Is s f if an qea rig M th ie h s pep ei h @h- 31.1: n theh s:'jp a dii' tha -i1 provide; simple detachable means forl'. po t r V I hI u at IYpr ovide for the ready ediiv rsiem i an. autoinobile froni thej c'oup type tothe sedantype by the manipinainely the shaft 30;

Pa ts-fa e n vedi e 1 l ase- 15M invention as explf's sedfin'the'claims.1511mm fore, 1 610 not wish wee-1mm i irespects, but Whztt; I d e deerifigfheba cli o'f t he-flilmbleseet in siite Mthou h Ihaveillufirfitiadand descrfled only a single form ofizhe invention; am

aware of the fxct thdt'medificationema y be aim is:

and movable from 'ihorizontai position t'O-a over therear seats to efopm'a-c oup style body; said element being pivdtail ly cbnneetiedzental to :a vertical positien i fie 'c'lorive'rt the position;

fvert'i'eal' positidn the second (element being r cennectedtoes'taitibnarypartofthefbody' V v near the top-thereof and mov abl effrom'a vertieali'position 001ahofizontal 'pesitien,

ment "being,arran g'ecl, .When eit her bf th-e other-elements is iiihdfizentalipesi'tion;"t0

'7 1pm a continuation thereof; 11 the way from jbne' te'thefothel,2:2*

e 2. In an a tomobiie'bbd ffthei combim 5 11011 with aQstafionarjpa'ft-oHhe-bedjhbf three mefifable elemeyits c'cyillsfiiijlloing? walls anditop thereof, two' of "said 'elemefits.

7 uarter fround "ceiiceiitfic With-16119 :p ivot s 3 "about' theirpivotswifholiitleaiving a space ei-e in either extreme pdsifion;

In a mtomobm; ceinbinetien 'with a stationary 7p aft' 'of' thebo&y;bfthree m-v- 1 table eleme'r l ts constitlififigiheTear Wall mid isin ihorizontatlfpositioiiyjao lief I V H plane and" censtiguteaj eentiiuat on "thereof, and a single fiasteniirg device adap fied 130' 'be 7 finserted into 'fnhefiffidd'h sectign ftb secureflit fpbsitively to? theflipper "secbl'on 4 when 5 the In testimony Whereef I he ve ef j j e Vfixed my 'si'gnafiure'. j f

